When our surveyor inspected the site, it was clear the structure was heavily compromised by penetrative damp seeping through defective mortar joints across large sections of the external walls. These issues had gone untreated for many years, creating long-term damage.

Our solution involved raking out all defective mortar to full depth, ensuring no voids were left that could allow water ingress. The external façade was then carefully repointed using a mortar mix that was colour-matched to the existing structure, blending the repair seamlessly into the historic building.

Internally, the situation was even more complex – many walls had built up significant levels of hygroscopic salts. In line with British Standards, these walls had to be fully stripped back to the original brickwork.

Once exposed, the masonry was treated with a salt-neutralising solution before being waterproofed using a carefully specified blend of sand and cement. To provide long-term protection, a chemical damp proof course (DPC) was installed to prevent rising damp from travelling up through the old fabric of the building.

The project was delivered within a strict timeframe, with health and safety always prioritised – from scaffolding compliance to site safety talks for all operatives. The result was the preservation of a much-loved local community landmark, restored for future generations.